Summer 2021
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Ranch Roundup What’s on the Horizon for Our Water?
Spring brought great lessons, a competitive second annual Swiftsure Derby, and the joy of welcoming you back for the 30th annual Cowboy Ball—in person, no less. But, unfortunately, spring has also brought the Wood River Valley a significant drought. While it seems that we often go through drought cycles here in Idaho, this one presents significant challenges for the ranch. In a “normal” year, our ranch hands are busy making sure our waterlines are in place, fields are being watered regularly, and the crop is growing. Typically, we’re pretty self-reliant. We grow our hay for the herd and produce enough over the summer to usually last us through the winter. But not this year; this year’s drought is throwing us a curveball. We have not been able to water at all this summer because of the extreme drought conditions that are present throughout the valley. Swiftsure Ranch Executive Director Paul Bennett states that the impacts the drought is taking on the ranch are significant.
While he noted that, unfortunately, there isn’t anything we can do about the water situation this year, we are taking advantage of this time to improve our water lines for efficiency. We are adding moisture meters to make sure we’re watering to JUST the right amount, and in the front pasture, our largest pasture, we’re replacing high-pressure water guns with traditional wheellines. These improvements are focused on distributing our water to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency in the years to come. As Paul said, there isn’t much we can do about the drought this year other than preparing ourselves for the future. This year we’re simply grateful for friends and connections that are helping us secure 40 tons of hay to get us through the winter months. We need to extend a big thank you to the Nancy Eccles and Homer Hayward Foundation and the Boswell Foundation for helping make this possible. Let us also state—we’re not the only ranch in the south valley faced with challenges this year. All ranches and properties in the Wood River Valley and Silver Creek drainage are seeing low water and are also forced to reduce or eliminate their summer water consumption.
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Connection
resa’s story is one of hope and inspiration. We were deeply moved when she shared it with us. Teresa joined Swiftsure in November 2006. At the time, the ranch was still under its former name, Sagebrush. While Teresa was initially skeptical of the power of equine therapy, another board member, Elizabeth, encouraged her to give it a try. According to Teresa, the thought of sitting on top of a horse was difficult to imagine. But once her doubt vanished, it proved to be just what she needed. For her first few sessions at the ranch, Teresa came weekly. But, because of various moves and changes in her life, riding with us became a bit more erratic. However, when she’s in town, she tries to join any lesson she can! Unfortunately, because of COVID, the last time we saw Teresa riding was in 2019. We know she’ll be back soon, though. We took a minute to ask about her goals as a Swiftsure board member. She noted that she brings true humility to the membership of the board. While she may not have the deepest pockets, she does have one of the deepest understandings of Swiftsure’s
While she may not have the deepest pockets, she does have one of the deepest understandings of Swiftsure’s impact. Welcome Back Board Member Teresa Hukari
Originally from Hood River, Oregon, Teresa has always had an affinity for the outdoors. She loves a daring adventure. For about 13 years, Teresa found herself between San Diego and the Bay Area for work. And while the job was great, it didn’t fulfill her sense of adventure. She longed for recreation right out her backdoor, as she experienced in Hood River. She also yearned to clip into her skis, like she did in her childhood days. This is where Ketchum filled the void. Teresa took a job with Smith Optics, in the Wood River Valley, and quickly found herself enjoying nature as she wanted. Fast forward approximately five years: in the blink of an eye, life—as she knew it—quickly changed. Teresa was skiing with some friends when she ended up in a freak accident that left her paralyzed. It was March 4th, 2006— the date remains vivid. She was first hospitalized in Boise for initial treatments, then transferred to Craig Hospital in Colorado for targeted care and rehab. Once released, she spent the next three years in Ketchum, and then split her time between family and Ketchum, ultimately making the move back to Hood River. At the time, Hood River wasn’t necessarily where she wanted to land, but Teresa will tell you herself, it made the most sense. She now has her own home that is fully accessible as well as a room for her caregiver. Because of everything she’s endured, Te-
impact. She is a user of Swiftsure’s services, a beneficiary of their work, and knows firsthand what it’s like to be an able-bodied person that has endured extreme challenges. She has learned how to adapt and has found Swiftsure to be a profound part of the transition. This is immensely helpful for our board, especially when it comes to making decisions. Finally, we asked Teresa to share the first three words that come to mind when thinking about Swiftsure—service, professionalism, heart. If someone is looking for a place or cause to contribute to (time, money, etc.) there is no shortage of need in the world. Swiftsure continues to stretch its resources to get the most out of what they have. The staff goes above and beyond and are truly making magic happen. We can’t thank Teresa enough for taking the time to sit down and chat with us. It was such a pleasure to learn about her journey, firsthand. We also can’t wait to see her back at the ranch with her ear-to-ear smile!
Driving to New Heights Paul Earns PATH Certification New ADA Carriage
Our executive director, Paul Bennett, has been certified as a PATH Therapeutic Driving Instructor! Participants will be able to reap the rewards of interaction and control of a horse or pony while driving from a carriage seat or in their own wheelchair!
This is not the actual carriage, and we probably won’t ride through the water, but it’s easy to see that there is pure joy in movement!
In addition to Paul’s certification, we will be acquiring an ADA-certified carriage for our participants. The purchase of our new ADA carriage has been made possible by a generous donation from the SPUR Foundation. We are really excited for this new opportunity to reach more participants.
Congratulations
Julia Earns PATH Certification Julia Petit has received her PATH Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification! Congratulations to Julia for all her hard work! Julia began volunteering at Swiftsure when she moved to the area in Fall 2020 and joined the team full-time at the beginning of January 2021. She is currently working on her master’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with a focus on Recreation Therapy through North Carolina State University where her courses are primarily online. Julia graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelor’s in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism in 2016. Her background is in municipal recreation, outdoor adventure, and nature-based education. Julia is an outdoor enthusiast. When she’s not at the ranch, you’ll find her hiking, camping, fly fishing, snowboarding and, of course, riding horses.
A Few Words
On Becoming a GEM “For me, being a GEM is about knowing that anyone who needs a safe place to process fears and emotions can find what they need, when they need it, and in a form of support that I personally love—through horses. It’s about knowing that the peace each individual finds on the ranch and with a horse follows them home to their families, their friends, their teachers, their co-workers and throughout their lives. When I’m with a horse, I’m there—I’m in the moment and nowhere else—and the horse is with me, and only me. That feeling is an undeniable gift to anyone who is given the opportunity to experience it. Becoming a GEM isn’t just about being part of a dedicated group of donors; it’s about being hopeful that there is a place to find genuine connection for everyone who needs it.” – Ann Harrison
Summer 2021
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Inside: Ranch Roundup Welcome Back Board Member Dana Glass Horsemanship Clinic New PATH Certifications
Dana Glass Horsemanship Clinic August 20-22, 2021
Foundation & Connection / 9AM - 12PM / 3 days Horsemanship 101 / 1PM - 4PM / 3 days Two Worlds Equestrian is a proud collaboration of Olympic bronze medalist Kasey Perry-Glass and leading horsemanship trainer Dana Glass. Dana has dedicated his career to setting horses up for success. He gives young horses a strong start, and naughty horses a second chance. When things feel complicated, Dana makes it simple. He is patient, persistent, and has a world-class understanding of everything from horses on the ranch to high-performance horses.
Register at swiftsureranch.org/DanaGlass “Good horsemanship doesn’t have a specific discipline. Being a good trainer often means working with a collaboration of minds, and that is what I've enjoyed about working with Dana.” Adrienne Lyle, US Olympic Dressage Team